Three months after passing an ordinance approving zoning for a proposed Walmart Neighborhood Market, Russellville aldermen are still in discord over issues related to the proposed development.

The meeting was the council’s last before an Aug. 13 referendum election, which will allow voters to confirm or overturn a zoning ordinance, passed 6-2 by the City Council in April, that establishes a planned unit development (PUD) for property located at West Main Street and South Vancouver Avenue. The PUD zoning would allow for construction of a Walmart Neighborhood Market at that location.

During a public hearing at the City Council’s meeting Thursday, Alderman Martin Irwin said he felt that, with an upcoming referendum election on the zoning ordinance, any action by the council to move forward on any agenda items pertaining to the Walmart Neighborhood Market could be a violation of voters’ constitutional right to petition the government.

Alderman Seth Irwin disagreed that a violation of rights would occur, but acknowledged some may claim any action by the council to have a chilling effect on potential voters.

Others felt the council should go ahead with business as usual until the election results deemed otherwise. Alderman Garland Steuber said the ordinance passed by the council is in effect unless and until it is overturned.

“That decision we made back in April, that election can overturn it, but until it does, that decision stands,” he said.

Alderman Randy Horton, who appeared publicly last week as part of a campaign to affirm zoning for the store, agreed with Steuber.

“We’re on the record for what our opinion on how this market should be rezoned is,” he said.

Two items appeared on the agenda Thursday relating to the proposed Neighborhood Market. The first was an ordinance to vacate portions of South Utah Avenue and West Second Street, necessary for construction of the store. The second item was an ordinance approving the final plat of the PUD.

Aldermen eventually heard a second reading of the ordinance to vacate portions of South Utah and West Second, with the expressed intention of hearing a third reading and voting on the matter in August should voters uphold the PUD zoning ordinance.

The council, with Martin Irwin dissenting and Alderman Richard Harris absent, approved the final plat for the project, with the understanding that the plat becomes effectively null if the zoning ordinance is overturned.

In other business Thursday, the council heard from David Ivy, operator of Ivy’s Cove RV Retreat, who expressed concerns about a proposed amendment to Russellville’s zoning code pertaining to RV parks. The amendment, if approved, would establish guidelines and regulations for the operation of RV parks within city limits.

Ivy said he had two concerns with the proposed regulations. First, was the 60-day time limit for RV parks. Ivy said there are many contractors in the Russellville area, including workers at Arkansas Nuclear One, who may stay as long as a year while working on a job.

“These people bring a lot of money to Russellville,” he said.

The second concern, Ivy said, was the inability to meter each campsite individually. This restriction could cause him to lose money if a particular campsite uses an inordinate amount of electricity and he is unable to recoup his costs.

City Planner David Harris agreed to meet with Ivy and other RV park owners to work toward a resolution.

Martin Irwin is a forceful personality. Most don't want to hear the truth, and Martin is not afraid to speak the truth about public policy. If he has a problem with you, he will come to you and talk to you straight in the face instead of talking behind your back. This makes politicians uncomfortable, since they are to worried about their political careers to speak frankly, and they seek to distance themselves from one who does.

There are things I don't agree with martin about, but I admire it when a political figure will tell you where he stands on an issue, and tell you straight to your face.

Martin consistently stands up for the taxpayer and property owner, he stands up for our civil and constitutional rights, he stands up against special interest and 'good ol boy politics' and for this I am truly grateful.

It is refreshing to speak to someone who doesn't talk in the political 'spin' that we are assaulted with, and will stand up to the political machine.

Martin, you are a wild man, but you are a wild man that stands for his fellow citizens and I, for one appreciate it.